Australian batsman Travis Head has disclosed he sent a private message of support to his Ashes opponent, England's Ben Duckett, after the latter faced a fierce social media backlash over an unauthorised video.
Controversy Erupts During Series Break
The incident unfolded during the mid-series break in the Ashes, when unverified footage surfaced online. The video, reportedly filmed in Noosa, appeared to show an intoxicated Ben Duckett engaged in a late-night exchange with a member of the public. This placed the England opener under intense and unwanted scrutiny.
Compounding the situation, England's managing director, Rob Key, had earlier that day labelled excessive drinking as "completely unacceptable" and pledged to investigate reports from the team's trip. In a show of solidarity, England captain Ben Stokes publicly backed his teammate, urging for "empathy" during an emotional press conference ahead of the fourth Test in Melbourne.
Head's Gesture of Camaraderie
Despite the fierce rivalry on the pitch, Travis Head felt compelled to check on Duckett's wellbeing. The two have shared a friendly rapport since their days competing against each other at Under-19s level.
"I get along with Ducky well, I reached out to him to see if he was going alright," Head told reporters at the MCG following England's two-day victory in the fourth Test. He emphasised the human element behind the headlines, stating, "Everyone is still human. What you do in personal time is up to you."
Head suggested the reaction was disproportionate, noting, "It was a bit stiff. Everyone made a lot more out of it than there should have been." He also speculated the video source, adding, "It was from one of his own as well, I reckon it was an England fan."
Moving On From the Furore
The Australia batter downplayed the severity of the incident, attributing the focus to the long gaps between matches. "I don't think it was any real issue," Head said. "When there's big gaps in Tests, people have got to find something to talk about. Hopefully we can play a bit longer next week and there's less stuff to talk about."
On the field, Duckett scored a crucial 34 runs in England's successful chase of 175 at the MCG, after being dismissed for just two in the first innings. Seemingly putting a difficult week behind him, he later posted a picture online clapping the travelling England fans, captioning it: "Amazing end to a pretty tough week."
The episode highlights the intense off-field pressures modern athletes face and the moments of cross-team camaraderie that persist even in the heat of an Ashes battle.
